Maclura pomifera – Osage orange seeds

Description

Maclura pomifera, or Osage orange, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree well suited to use as a coppiced firewood crop. Its dense wood burns extremely hot and long, making it one of the most efficient firewoods available. With proper management, it can provide a steady, renewable supply of fuel for woodstoves or outdoor fires.

Osage orange produces around 32.9 million BTU per cord (dry) — slightly lower than mānuka, but still among the hottest-burning woods grown in temperate climates. What it lacks in ultimate heat output it makes up for in speed: Osage orange grows significantly faster than mānuka and responds well to coppicing, producing multiple vigorous shoots after cutting. On favourable sites, growth can exceed 1 metre per year in early years, making it an efficient choice for firewood plantations.

The tree grows 8–15 metres tall and thrives in full sun and well-drained soils but tolerates poor, dry, and exposed sites. It is extremely hardy (to –30°C), drought-tolerant, and forms a dense, thorny structure ideal for shelterbelts or livestock hedging.

Osage orange is dioecious (separate male and female trees), but for firewood purposes this distinction isn’t critical. Still, for future seed collection or genetic diversity, plant six to ten seedlings.

Germination and Cold Stratification:
Seeds require 1–3 months of cold, moist stratification. Store in moist medium at 1–5°C, then sow into warm (20–25°C) conditions. Germination may take several weeks.

Outdoor Stratification Tip:
Seeds can be sown into pots or trays in autumn and left in a cool, rodent-proof area outdoors over winter. Cold exposure will help trigger germination in spring.